JuicyTalk
The 2000s were an inspiring time for animated cinema, with some of the best films released to ever use that medium. It was also an interesting era because Walt Disney Animation Studios dominated the ’90s, yet fell into something of a slump in the 2000s. That opened the door for other studios to become iconic.
Whether it was DreamWorks coming to the forefront, Pixar rising to new heights, or even the long-running Studio Ghibli gaining more prominence around the world, the 2000s was a great time for animated movies. The era was also boosted by the debut of the Best Animated Feature Award at the Oscars.
Each year of the 2000s included several movies that could be considered the best animated release of them all. Picking out the best from each year is difficult but there are some stellar options.
2000: The Emperor’s New Groove
The year 2000 wasn’t the most groundbreaking year for animated cinema but there were some that stood out. Chicken Run was a critical darling, The Road to El Dorado has aged remarkably well, and Batman Beyond: Return of the Joker is something of a hidden gem.
The film taking the top spot in 2000 is The Emperor’s New Groove, which was a Walt Disney Animation Studios release. While the decade wasn’t great for the studio from a commercial standpoint, the film was very well received. It was nominated for a Best Original Song Oscar and has become a cult classic after flopping at the box office.
The Emperor’s New Groove tells the story of a selfish emperor who is transformed into a llama and must work with a kind village leader to get his body back. The tale of found friendship is heartfelt, and the movie is legitimately hilarious.
2001: Spirited Away
2001 was one of the strongest years for animation in cinematic history. Atlantis: The Lost Empire is incredibly underrated, Shrek made history as the first winner of the Best Animated Feature Academy Award, and Pixar’s Monsters Inc. is one of the legendary studio’s best films.
To be the best of the bunch from a loaded year like 2001 means a movie must be truly special and that describes Spirited Away. From acclaimed filmmaker Hayao Miyazaki, Spirited Away is a touching fantasy film from Studio Ghibli.
Spirited Away focuses on a young girl who enters a world of spirits and must find a way to save her parents, who have been turned into pigs. Miyazaki brings the aspects of that premise together perfectly. The film was met with widespread acclaim and is considered a classic, and has only grown in popularity over the years.
2002: Lilo & Stitch
2002 was more like 2000 than 2001 in terms of the number of quality animated movies that were released. The standouts included The Cat Returns, Disney’s box office flop Treasure Planet, and Ice Age, which started an entire franchise.
The best animated film from the year is Lilo & Stitch, which was one of the few major hits from Walt Disney Animation Studios during the decade. It grossed over $250 million, led to a couple of straight-to-video sequels, a TV show, and a live-action adaptation in 2025.
Lilo & Stitch is a great story of found family, centering on an orphaned Hawaiian girl who forms a bond with an alien who crashes down to Earth. That emotional story made the film relatable, while it also stands as one of the last great films to be traditionally animated at a time when CGI took over.
2003: Finding Nemo
Like 2002, there wasn’t a ton of memorable animated films put out in 2003. In fact, there are just three that really had a shot at being the best. There’s Disney’s Brother Bear, an underrated movie in their catalog, and Tokyo Godfathers, a beautiful Christmas film from Japan.
Of course, it’s hard to top Pixar’s Finding Nemo, which has withstood the test of time to remain in the conversation as one of the best animated movies of all time. It was a hit upon release, nearly grossing $1 billion, and adding another feather in Pixar’s impressive cap.
Finding Nemo sits at a whopping 99% rating on Rotten Tomatoes and took home the Oscar for Best Animated Feature. On top of that, it was the highest-selling DVD of all time at one point. Finding Nemo also sparked a sequel in 2016, Finding Dory, which was also a huge box office and critical success.
2004: Shrek 2
One of the most difficult years to pick a best animated film is 2004 because the quality was just so high. Pixar’s The Incredibles is an outstanding movie that holds up as one of Pixar’s greatest, while Howl’s Moving Castle is another hit from director Hayao Miyazaki. Both would likely be the best in most other years.
That said, Shrek 2 is one of the best sequels ever made, regardless of genre. The original Shrek won Best Animated Feature, yet the sequel managed to take what worked there and improve on it while also upping the ante.
From memorable musical numbers like “Holding Out for a Hero,” to the twist of turning Shrek into a human for part of the movie, Shrek 2 is incredibly memorable. It was nominated for another Oscar, became the highest-grossing film of the year, and remains the best entry in the Shrek franchise in the eyes of many.
2005: Corpse Bride
Chicken Little was one of Disney’s lesser liked films, Robots was a solid hit, and Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit was a fun little movie that got overlooked by too many people. That makes it easier to narrow down 2005’s best animated film to Corpse Bride.
This stop-motion animated movie is from the mind of Tim Burton and has pretty much every staple of a Burton project you could imagine. The goth film is set in the 19th century and follows Victor, who gets taken away to the underworld where he’s wed to the titular character while his real wife remains alive.
While there were bigger hits commercially, Corpse Bride was a critical success. It holds an 84% rating on Rotten Tomatoes while also being nominated for Best Animated Feature at the Oscars. More than anything else, though, it’s an iconic film that has only been viewed in a better light as time passes.
2006: Paprika
2006 was one of the more interesting years for quality in terms of animated movies. Happy Feet was George Miller’s entry into the medium, Monster House remains underrated, Cars started a huge franchise for Pixar, and A Scanner Darkly is one of the more unique animated films ever made.
One has to look to Japan to find the best of the year though. Paprika might not be all that well-known but it’s a genius film with a gorgeous animation style that was met with widespread acclaim upon release.
Paprika is based on a 1993 novel and tells the story of a young therapist who embarks on a journey to stop a “dream terrorist” who steals a machine that allows them to enter people’s dreams. The film has drawn positive comparisons to Inception, which is another must-see film.
2007: Ratatouille
In 2007, films like Beowulf and Shrek the Third disappointed audiences while Surf’s Up and Meet the Robinsons were both surprise successes. There was also The Simpsons Movie, which was highly anticipated and lived up to the hype.
That said, Rataouille is the best animated movie from 2007. From director Brad Bird, who had done fantastic work with The Iron Giant and The Incredibles, Ratatouille tells the unique story of a rat who dreams of being a chef and ends up working with a human to create masterful dishes.
Along with being a commercial hit, Ratatouille won Best Animated Feature at the Oscars and became the rare animated movie to be nominated for Best Original Screenplay. The film is also a pop culture staple, with Remy being an iconic piece of the France Pavilion at Disney World’s EPCOT.
2008: WALL-E
In 2008, there were some major animated films released. There was Hayao Miyazaki’s Ponyo, a Disney hidden gem in Bolt, Dr. Seuss’ Horton Hears a Who, the Madagascar sequel, and the start of a new franchise in Kung Fu Panda. Even Star Wars got in on the action with The Clone Wars.
All that said, there was really only one film ever considered for the best of the year and that’s WALL-E. This Pixar release is their riskiest as it features little to no dialogue, which isn’t something done often for a movie aimed at children.
Despite the lack of dialogue, WALL-E tells a beautiful story about love across the cosmos and more than earned its Best Animated Feature Oscar victory. The visuals are stunning, the score is perfect, and the love story between the titular WALL-E and EVE is highly emotional.
2009: Fantastic Mr. Fox
Like 2008, 2009 was another year of great, diverse animated projects. From the unique 9 to the fun of Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs to yet another Ice Age sequel, there was a lot to offer. The standouts, though, were The Princess and the Frog, Pixar’s Up, and Laika’s Coraline.
While any of those final three could be considered the best from 2009 and some of the best animated movies ever made, Fantastic Mr. Fox is the choice here. This stop-motion animated film isn’t from Disney, Pixar, Studio Ghibli, or DreamWorks, which is rare.
Instead, Fantastic Mr. Fox is from Revolution Studios and comes from the mind of Wes Anderson. All of the filmmaker’s signature tropes are evident in this Roald Dahl adaptation, which features a great voice cast, a well-written screenplay, and an Oscar-nominated score.
